How to Set a Stop Loss in MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Guide
October 1, 2026
To set a stop loss in MetaTrader 5, open the order window, enter your chosen price in the Stop Loss field and submit the order. For an existing position, open the Trade tab, select Modify or Delete , enter the stop-loss price and confirm the change.
The stop must be placed on the correct side of the market: below the current price for a buy position and above the current price for a sell position. Your broker may also impose a minimum distance between the current market price and the stop.
The exact buttons can differ slightly between MT5 desktop, web and mobile versions. Broker settings, symbol specifications and execution rules can also affect which stop prices the platform accepts.
What a stop loss does in MT5
A stop loss is an instruction to close an open position when the market reaches a specified adverse price. Its main purpose is to limit the planned loss on a trade.
For example, suppose a trader buys EUR/USD at a hypothetical price of 1.08500 and places a stop loss at 1.08250. The price difference is 0.00250, equal to 25 pips on this currency pair. If the stop is triggered, MT5 sends the closing instruction according to the broker’s execution rules.
A stop loss limits risk, but it does not guarantee execution at the exact requested price. During gaps, low liquidity or fast market movement, the position may close at the next available price. This difference is commonly called slippage.
How to set a stop loss when opening an MT5 trade
Open MetaTrader 5 and select the instrument you want to trade in Market Watch. Right-click the instrument and select New Order . You can also press F9 in many desktop installations. Check the symbol, order type and trade volume. Enter your chosen price in the Stop Loss field. If required, enter a take-profit price separately. Select Buy by Market or Sell by Market after checking every order parameter. Open the Trade tab in the Toolbox and confirm that the stop-loss value appears beside the position.
For a buy order, the stop-loss price normally needs to be below the current market price. For a sell order, it normally needs to be above the current market price. MT5 will usually reject an invalid price or a stop that is too close to the market.
Hypothetical buy and sell examples
These figures are purely illustrative. A suitable stop distance depends on the instrument, volatility, trading strategy and the amount the trader can afford to lose.
How to add or modify a stop loss on an open position
If you opened a position without a stop loss, or need to adjust an existing one, you can modify the position from MT5’s Trade tab.
Open the Toolbox window at the bottom of MT5. The common keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+T. Select the Trade tab. Right-click the open position. Choose Modify or Delete . Enter the new price in the Stop Loss field. Click the modification button to submit the change. Return to the Trade tab and confirm that the new stop price is displayed.
Depending on your chart settings, you may also be able to drag the position’s stop-loss line directly on the chart. Make sure trade levels are visible and carefully check the confirmation box before approving the new price. Dragging a line quickly can lead to an unintended stop level.
Do not assume that a modification was accepted merely because you clicked the button. Look for a successful confirmation and verify the stop-loss price in the Trade tab. A rejected modification leaves the previous setting unchanged.
How to set a stop loss in the MT5 mobile app
On the MT5 mobile app, a stop loss can be entered when placing the trade or added to an existing position.
For a new mobile order
Open the Quotes screen and select the required symbol. Tap Trade or New Order . Choose the order type and volume. Enter the stop-loss price in the Stop Loss or SL field. Review the symbol and volume, then submit the buy or sell order. Check the Trade screen to confirm the stop is attached.
For an existing mobile position
Open the Trade screen. Tap the open position. On some Android versions, you may need to tap and hold it. Select Modify Position . Enter or change the stop-loss price. Confirm the modification and verify the updated SL value.
Menu names can vary by operating system and app version, but the basic process remains the same. Always confirm that you are modifying the intended position, especially when several trades are open in the same instrument.
Setting a stop loss on an MT5 pending order
MT5 also lets traders attach a stop loss to pending orders such as Buy Limit, Sell Limit, Buy Stop and Sell Stop orders.
Open the New Order window. Change the order type to Pending Order . Select the required pending-order category. Enter the pending entry price and volume. Enter the intended stop-loss price. Set an expiry if needed and supported. Place the order and review it in the Trade tab.
The stop loss generally becomes relevant once the pending order is activated and creates a position. Check both the pending entry price and the stop-loss price because each must be on the correct side of the market and comply with the symbol’s minimum-distance rules.
How to choose a stop-loss price
A stop should not be selected solely by choosing an arbitrary number of pips. It should reflect the point at which the original trade idea is no longer valid while keeping the financial risk within a predefined limit.
Common reference points include:
A recent swing low for a buy trade or swing high for a sell trade. A support or resistance level, with room for normal price movement. A volatility-based distance derived from a consistently applied method. A technical pattern’s invalidation level. A maximum monetary risk that fits the trader’s risk plan.
Placing a stop exactly on an obvious recent high or low may expose it to normal market noise. However, moving the stop farther away increases the loss per lot. The position size should therefore be calculated after choosing a logical stop price.
Calculate lot size from the stop distance
The same stop distance can create very different financial outcomes depending on trade volume. A 20-pip stop on a small position risks less money than a 20-pip stop on a large position.